VIPs Seek Alternative Security as Police Withdraw Escorts
Many prominent Nigerians have turned to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Correctional Service and private security firms for protection following the implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s directive withdrawing police escorts attached to VIPs.
The withdrawal, which affected 11,566 police personnel previously deployed as orderlies and escorts, is part of a broader effort to redirect manpower to core policing duties across the country.
Following the directive, NSCDC offices nationwide have been inundated with requests from VIPs seeking armed protection for themselves and their families. The surge in demand has placed additional pressure on the Corps, which already deploys its personnel to protect critical infrastructure, mining sites, pipelines and other national assets.
A senior official noted that with about 60,000 personnel across the country, NSCDC is stretched thin and may not be able to meet the influx of applications without affecting its primary responsibilities.
The Nigerian Correctional Service has also received inquiries from individuals seeking armed guards, while private security firms are witnessing increased patronage from clients who previously depended on police protection.
In Ondo State, the government responded to the shifting security landscape by approving the recruitment of 500 additional operatives into the Amotekun Corps to strengthen local security operations.
The Ministry of Interior, which supervises NSCDC, said the Corps will comply fully with the presidential directive while continuing to support national security efforts.
The development has reignited discussions over the capacity of paramilitary agencies and private firms to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of police escorts, particularly at a time when insecurity remains a major challenge across the country.